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NBA Picks

NBA Picks: Monday Night Odds & Predictions

While most of all the eyes are drawn to the BCS National Title game tonight, lets take a look and see what lines the odds makers have left us for our nightly NBA picks. Are we in a prime position to rip off a 2-0 night with our focus on the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz?

The Magic have hit a major low point in their season,
dropping 8 consecutive games in a row on their home floor. This includes losses
to some of the worst teams in the entire league, Toronto (twice), Washington
and New Orleans. Not only are they unable to earn a victory, they cannot even
cover a spread, as they have only done so twice in their last six games.

They will now pack their bags after one of the most
miserable home stands in recent memory and make the flight to one of the most
energetic arenas in the country in the Rose Garden to take on a red hot Portland
squad who are 11-4 on their home floor. This is not a team (Orlando) you want
your money on to say the least.

Portland feeling good

Unlike Orlando, Portland has some really positive momentum
to build off of, seeing as they return home from a four game road trip in which
they went 3-1 against the Knicks, Grizzlies, Timberwolves and Toronto (their
only loss, go figure). Overall, they have won 7 of their last 10 and rookie
Damian Lilliard is playing like an absolute monster, averaging almost 20 points
a game, 6 assist and 5 rebounds over his last 10 games.

Tale of two tapes

These are two teams going in complete opposite directions at
the moment. We can't possibly see a way for Orlando to pick themselves off the
mat right now. Portland is flying high
and obviously one of the best home teams in all of the NBA. Look for them to
put their foot on Orlando’s throat early and never look back.

Dallas comes into this ball game as a 5 point underdog with
the OVER/UNDER at 197 and we are pretty much going with the same theme here as
we did with our first game. Dallas is in the same scenario as Orlando, losers
of 8 of their last 9, with a 5-14 average on the road this season. To add to
insult, Utah is one of the roughest venues for a road team in the NBA
considering the environment and high altitude.

Dallas has to have
tired legs

Thanks to injuries, the Mavericks have had no depth on their
bench what so ever, and to make matters worse, they have already played 7
overtime games this season (just one shy of matching the franchise record). Now
they will travel to Utah coming off an OT loss. Dirk Nowitzki did make his
first start of the season, scoring 20 points but missed a free throw in over
time to tie the score and eventually Dallas took the loss to the lowly Hornets
99-96. If this team wasn't gassed already, they certainly will be by the time
the 2nd half comes around tonight. The fact of the matter is that there
just isn't any talent on this team right now and they have to be completely
drained, and playing in Utah will only make matters worse.

Stats-

Utah crushed Dallas on their home floor Oct 31 this year
113-94

Utah is 57-18 all time at home against Dallas

Utah -5 is our final NBA play of the day. Line available at
Betonline.